Just a Really Good Crispy Pork Wonton

I've sold thousands of these delicious wontons throughout the years. From what I've heard, they're pretty good:

Satisfied customer #1: "Oh. My. God."
Satisfied customer #2:  "These are the best wontons I've ever had".
Satisfied customer #3:  (Doesn't say much, but eats about 25 wontons) :p

Sharing is Caring?
Should I share my recipe here? So far, I've only revealed the recipe to students in my cooking classes. After much careful deliberation, I've decided to share my basic recipe here. It will taste good and is super easy to make. I'll also detail my quick wonton production method - 200 wontons an hour.

My original recipe, adapted from my Popo's, has a few additional ingredients that (in my opinion) elevate the dish. I *might* share it with you some day. :)

In the meantime, if you need your wonton cravings satisfied, place your orders with me! These things freeze and reheat well so order more ;)


Ingredients

For filling
1 lb ground pork
1 oz finely diced water chestnut
1 oz finely diced carrot
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1 egg
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Plus
1 packet wonton wrappers
4 cups peanut oil
(Makes about 60 wontons)

1. Thoroughly mix all the filling ingredients together
2. Preheat oil in a wok or deep fryer to 375 F
3. To wrap the wontons: peel off a piece of wonton 'skin'. Place in the palm of your left hand.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Using a teaspoon, scoop up about a heaping teaspoonful of filling. Sort of 'smear' the filling onto the wonton skin on your palm so it forms a balled shaped.
5. With the wonton skin still in your left palm, use your right forefinger and thumb to pick up the bottom corner of the skin and bring it up to meet the opposite corner. Lightly pinch the skins together where they meet just above the balled filling.
6. Again using your right forefinger and thumb hold the pinched corners. Then your left forefinger and thumb draw the other two loose corners inward to meet the pinched corners, at the same time pressing quite firmly into the balled filling. Try to get maximum contact for skin and filling, eliminate air pockets. 
   
   
   
   
   
7. Place on tray lightly dusted with corn flour. This prevents the wontons from sticking to the tray.
8. Keep going until the filling is used up.
9. Drop the wontons into the hot oil and fry for three minutes. At the end of three minutes the wontons should be golden brown in color and safely cooked through. If they turn dark too quickly, reduce the heat for the next batch.
10. Serve immediately with sweet sour dipping sauce (recipe to follow!) 
    
    
    
    
    
11. Any leftovers can be reheated at 350 F for 10 minutes.

I'd love to know how the wontons turned out for you and if you had any problems making them. Leave a comment!

Rainbow Fruit Skewers for Wedding Hors D'oeuvres Reception Party

So today I did a practice run to estimate how much of each fruit would be needed for 100 fruit kebabs for Kim and Jeff's Big Day.

You will need a pack of 8 inch bamboo skewers ($3.95 free ship on Amazon)

Tell me these aren't gorgeous. :)

Here's the breakdown

• Purple Grape - 1 lb
• Blue Berries - 1 pint
• Green Kiwi - 9 kiwis
• Yellow Pineapple - 1 medium
• Orange Cantaloupe - 1 small
• Red Strawberries - 4 lbs

Directions

• Chill all fruit thoroughly. The cantaloupe and pineapple should be chilled overnight. 
• Before food prep, wash and sanitize hands.
• Prep each fruit in turn, returning to chiller as soon as prepared. 
• Pick grapes off stems. Rinse.
• Rinse blueberries
• Peel kiwi. Cut into half lengthwise, then into another six cubes. 1 kiwi = 12 cubes
• Cut skin off pineapple. Cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
• Cut skin off cantaloupe. Cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
• Cut the tops off strawberries. Leave a uniform 3/4 inch from tip to end, for each strawberry.
• Assemble the skewers. Do this quickly, returning to chiller as soon as completed. 
• Keep covered and chilled till service time. And serve on a platter sat on ice to keep cold. 

Alternatives for Colors

• Purple - blackberries
• Green - grapes
• Yellow - mango
• Orange - orange!
• Red - watermelon, raspberries

What do you think? What other fruit would you use? What about fruit shapes? I love hearing from you!


xo Gracie 

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